Sectional insulator



J. T. MORGAN.

SECTIONAL INSULATOR.

APPLICATION man MAY24.1919.

1,354,505. Patented ot. 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. l

J. T. MORGAN.

SECTIONAL INSULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'24. 1919.

1,354,505. Patented oct. 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

annua) gn neuk YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T, MORGAN, OF CHARLESTON,

weer vrnsiivin, Assrenor. To THE OHIO BRASS SECTIONAL INSULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Application filed May 211, 1919. Serial No. 299,667.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN T. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, now in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, and who resides at Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of Nest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Sectional Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in section insulators and has more particular reference to the type of section insulator switches used most generally in mines and similar places.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved device of this character which Vwill be simple, durable and reliable in construction and effective and eiiicient in operation.V

Another Objectis to provide improved means for maintaining the switch in open position.

./"i further object is to provide a-device of the. character referred to, having improved means whereby it may be readily and conveniently secured in or removed from operative position.

A still further object is to produce an im- -proved section insulator switch having' means whereby a substantially continuous or unobstructed under-run surface is provided in either open or closed positions of the switch for engagement with the 'collectors 'ofcars when passing thereunder.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment vof other new and useful objects, as will appear, theinvention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of a section insulator switch embodying my invention and in which the switch is'shown as closed.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and in which the switch is shown as open.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. p

f Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the embodiment of the preferred form of my invention, metallic end members l and 2 are shown as secured to a bar 3. composed of insulation material, by means of bolts passing through suitable apertures formed in the bar and having threaded engagement with the end members. The end members are provided with runner pieces 5 and 6 preferably formed integral therewith and which project beyond the ends of the bar 3v and have their lower edges rounded similar to the shape of a trolley wire so as to form a smooth under-run surface for the collector of cars when passing thereunder. The outer ends of the runners are provided with suitable openings to receive the adjacent ends of two conductors 7 and 8 which may be secured therein in any suitable or approved manner, such for instance as by means of set screws 9. The end members are provided with lug projections 10 adjacent the ends of the bar 3, which projections have transverse holes 1l, and set screws 12, for the purpose of attaching feeder wires to the device.

The inner ends of the end members are spaced apart forming a considerable gap therebetween and for the purpose of substantially closing this gap in order to provide a more nearly continuous or uninterrupted surface to coperate with the collectors of cars, and to eliminate hammering T provide an intermediate stationary runnerpiece 13 having its under edge rounded off similar to the end members 1 and 2 and flush with the under-run surfaces thereof. This stationary runner piece is interposed between the inner ends of the end members and substantially bridges the gap therebetween, being of such a length as to provide spaces 14 between the parts of suiiicient dimensions to prevent sparking or leakage of current across the end members when the device is in open position in which position the end members are electrically disconnected, as will be described hereinafter.

For the purpose of rigidly securing the 1n- Atermediate runner piece 13 in position I preferably provide a bracket 15 secured to the bar 3 by clamping bolts 16 said bracket having a suitable aperture adapted to receive the connecting bolt 17 which-is threaded into the runner piece 13 and interlocked therewith against accidental disengagement by means of a transverse pin 1S, as clearly shown inrFig. 4. The bracket 15 and the stationary runner piece 13 comprise flanges 19 and 2O respectively at their adjacent ends which are maintained in spaced relation, forming a space 21 therebetween, by

Vmeans of lugs 22 preferably formed integrally with the flange 20. 'These lugs are apertured to receive screws 23 which are threaded into the bracket 15 and which serve to interlock the stationary runner piece 13 against rotation with the bracket.

In order to 'provide for electrically connecting the end members 1 and 2 I arrange a switch blade 24 in the space 21. This switch blade has a central hole through which the connecting bolt 17 passes and it is free to rotate about this bolt and its ends are adapted to enter between and engage stationary clips or contacts 25 preferably in the form of flat pieces of metal having their inner ends 26 secured in grooves formed in the end pieces 1 and 24 and which are locked in position by transverse pins 27. .The switch blade and its co-acting clips are positioned above the path of movement of the trolley collector wheel, not shown, so that there is no danger of damage therefrom.

A handle 28 is provided for operating the `switch blade 24. One end of this handle is secured to an integral projection 29 outstanding laterally from a filler block 3() secured to the switch blade by means of a screw 31. Another filler block 32 is arranged on the switch blade and is secured thereto in spaced relation with the filler block 30 by means of ascrew 33. This ller block comprises a lateral extension 34 provided with an opening by means of which one end of a tension spring 35 is secured thereto. The other end of the spring 35 may be connected to the bar 3 Yin any suitable or approved. manner, such for instance as by means of a screw eye 36. This spring serves to maintain the switch blade in engagement with the lugs 23, (see Fig. 3) when the device is in open position and operates to prevent accidental closing of the switch, as by jarring. The filler blocks 30 and 32 have their under edges rounded off silnilar to the end runners i and are arranged and adapted to be`positioned within and lill the spaces 14 when the device is in closed position and form in conjunction with the end runners and the stationary runner piece a mechanically continuous or uninterrupted under-run surface, as clearly shown'in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the switch blade 24V isv operated into engagement with its co-acting clips or contacts 25 sufficient friction is Vobtained between the parts to resist action of the spring 35 which is then maintained in. extended position.

To support the device and hold it in pesition I preferably provide two clevises 37 which embrace the bar 3 and are secured thereto, one adjacent each end thereof, by means of transverse bolts 38. These clevises have studs 39 rigidly secured therein, as by riveting, as shown, or otherwise, which studs are screw threaded, preferably left-handed, for engagement with the similarly threaded ends of adjusting collars 40. The adjusting collars 40 may be provided with polygonal sided portions 41 and have their opposite ends screw threaded, preferably right-handed, for engagement with the studs 42 of any suitable hangers or supports 43.

In practice when it is Vdesired to secure the device in position the operator first partially unscrews or removes the adjusting collars "40 from the studs 39 within a short distance of their ends, by rotating the adjusting collar in one direction. The device is then arranged into position by bringing the lfree ends of the adjusting collars 40 into engagement with the ends of the studs 42 and is then secured to the hangers or supports by rotating the collars 40 in the opposite direction. This rotation of the adjusting collars causes'them to engage or screw onto the threads of the studs 39 and 42 simultaneously, by reason of said threads being one 'right-handed and the other left-handed, as

above stated, and is continued Vuntil the upper end surface of the adjusting collar is brought into engagement with the lower surface of the support, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that this arrangement provides for rigidly securing the device in position.

' Having thus fully described my invention and illustrated one embodiment of the same, I do not wish to be limited to the details of the construction shown since these can be obviously changed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bar of insulating material, a pair of terminal members spaced apart vand secured to the bar, a stationary member formingV an underrun supported by the bar and interposed between the terminalmembers and spaced therefrom, a rotatable filler member arrangedto be'moved into alinement with saidl terminal and stationary members to com-plete the under-run from terminal to terminal, means for electrically connecting the terminal members when the rotatable'filler'member is moved into alinement, and means for rotating the filler member and the electrical connecting means in and out of position with the terminal members.

in a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting,` member and terminal members insulated therefrom and spaced apart, a stationary underrun member interposed between said members and in alinement therewith, a rotatable switch blade, filler blocks carried by the switch blade and arranged to be moved into alinement with said terminal members and said stationary member, and contacts on said terminal members adapted to be engaged by the switch blade to electrically connect said terminal members when said filler members are moved te alined positions.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bar of insulating material and end members attached thereto adjacent the ends thereof and to which a trolley wire is adapted to be attached, a

.stationary underrun member mounted on said bar between said end members and in alinement therewith, a rotatable switch blade, a plurality of filler blocks carried by said switch blade and arranged to be moved inter-V mediate the adjacent ends of said end members and said stationary underrun member and to be positioned in alinement therewith to form a mechanical continuation thereof, and contacts engageable by said switch blade mounted on said end members.

l. In a device of the class described, the combination cf a bar of insulating material and end members attached to said bar adjacent the ends thereof and to which a trolley wire is adapted to be attached, a stationary underrun member secured to said bar between said end members and in alinement therewith, a rotary switch blade, filler blocks mounted on said switch blade and rotatable therewith and adapted to be positioned intermediate the adjacent ends of said end members and said stationary underrun member to form a mechanical continuation thereof, contacts engageable by said switch blade mounted on said end members, and a handle outstanding from said switch blade for rotating it and the 'filler blocks.

5. An insulator of the class described hat-ring in combination a plurality of alternately placed terminal and intermediate members spaced apart and insulated from each other and forming a partial underrun for a moving current collector and means adapted to be moved in and out of alinement with the above members to complete or interrupt the continuity of the underrun and means secured to the last mentioned means to electrically connect or disconnect the alternately placed members when the last means is moved in and out of alinement with the alternately placed pair of members.

6. In a device .of the class described, the combination of a bar of'insulating material and end members attached thereto in alinevment with each other and spaced apart, a

stationary underrun member secured to the bar between the end members and in alinement therewith, a rotary switch blade, contacts engageable by said ,fwitch blade mounted on said end members, filler blocks carried by the switch blade and rotatable therewith and adapted to be positioned intermediate the adjacent ends of said end members and said stationary underrun member to form a substantiallj7 continuous underrun surface from one of said members to the other when the switch blade is in engagement with the contacts, a handle for rotating the switch blade, and means for securing the device to a support.

7. in a device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally disposed bar of insulating' material, end members mounted thereon in substantial alinement therewith and spaced apart, a bracket secured to said bar, a stationary underrun member cured to the bracket between the end members and in alinement therewith, a holding device for securing the stationary underrun mernber to the bracket, a switch blade rotatable about said holding device for electrically connecting the end members, filler blecks carried by said switch blade and arranged to be positioned intermediate the adjacent ends of said end members and said stationary underrun member to form a continueus underrun surface frem end to end of the device, contacts engageable by the switch blade secured to the end members, a handle for the switch blade, and attaching means secured to said bar adjacent each end thereof.

8. In a device of the character described. the combination of a bar of insulating material and end members attached thereto adjacent the ends thereof, a bracket secured to the bar, a stationary underrun member secured to the bracket between the inner ends of the end members and in alinement therewith, a switch blade rotatably mounted between the bracket and said underrun member foreleetrically connectiuev the end members, filler blocks carried by the switch blade and arranged te be positioned bctween the ends 'of said stationary underrun member and the adjacent ends of the enr members to form a ccntinueus underrun surface from one end member to the other, contacts engageable by the switch blade secured to the end members, a handle for the switch blade, a spring` hai-fing one end connected to the switch blade and its other end connected to said bar for maintaining' the switch blade cut of engagement with the contacts, and means for securing the device to a support.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bar of insulating material and end members attached thereto and spaced apart, a stationary underrun vmember secured to the bar between the end -ber secured to the bracket between the end members in alinement therewith and spaced apart, contact clips mounted on said end members adjacent their inner ends, a switch blade movable into engagement with said clips for electrically connecting the 'end members, filler blocks rotatable into alinement with said end members and underrun member to mechanically bridge the Vspaces therebetween, means for actuating the switch blade and filler block, and fastening means on said device for attachment to supporting means.

11. In a device of the class described, the

Y combination'of a horizontally disposed bar of insulating material, and members spaced apart vand secured to the under edge of said bar adjacent the ends thereof and in substantial alinement therewith, runner pieces formedA on saidend members and projecting beyond and in alinement therewith for attachment to the trolley wire ends, a nonrotatable underrun member secured to the bar betr-reen the endmembers and in al ment therewith and having its ends terminating in spaced relation with the adjacent ends of theV end members forming gaps herebetween, a switch blade operable to electrically connect and disconnect said end members, means to operate the blade into and out of engagement with one member, filler blocks movable into said gaps to mechanically bridge the spaces between the adjacent ends of the end members and said underrun member and means to operate the filler block into and out of alinement with the end members.

12. In a device of the class described the combination of a bar of insulating material, a plurality of terminal members spaced apart and insulated from each other, a switch adapted to electrically connect and disconnect the terminal members, means secured to the switch member and movable Vtherewith in and out of alinement with the terminal members to form an under-run for a current collector when the switch is Open, and a stationary under-run member supported by the insulating barand interposed between and insulated from the terminal members land forming an under-run for the current collector when the switch is open and the means secured to the switch is out cf'alinement with the terminal members.

in' testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN T. MORGAN. 

